External locking mechanism

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a storage container with an external locking mechanism. The storage container includes a base, a roof, sidewalls extending between the base and roof, and first and second doors rotatably mounted directly or indirectly to the first and second sidewalls, respectively. The first and second doors are configured to rotate between open and closed positions. The locking mechanism includes a tab fixedly mounted directly or indirectly to the first door. This tab includes an aperture for receiving a shackle of a lock. The tab aperture defines a centerline that extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to respective planes in which the roof and base are contained. The locking mechanism also includes a container fixedly mounted directly or indirectly to the second door and configured to receive the lock. The lock container comprises a lock container base, and lock container sidewalls extending from the lock container base. A first lock container side comprises a lock container aperture. The lock container is fixedly mounted to the second door. When the first and second doors are in the closed position, the tab extends through the lock container aperture.

1. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/208,616, entitled “Internal and/or External LockBox Mechanism for High Security Applications,” filed Jun. 6, 2000.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Portable storage containers are widely used to provide temporaryor permanent storage space for tools, equipment, goods, etc. U.S. Pat.No. 5,833,111 entitled “Foldable Storage Container” filed Sep. 25, 1997,which is incorporated herein by reference, illustrates an exemplarystorage container. Storage containers are easily moveable to providequick response to business owners in need of additional storage. Storagecontainers are typically formed from ridged materials and are providedwith locking mechanisms for security purposes.

[0003] Storage containers generally include a base, a pair of sidewalls,and a roof. One or more doors may be provided at each end of the storagecontainer to enable access thereto. Storage containers are available ina wide variety of sizes. Prior art storage containers can be assembledas rigid structures with the base, sidewalls and roof fixedly connectedto each other using well-known welding techniques. Additionally, asshown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,111, storage containers may be foldable.

[0004] Storage containers are often employed to store expensive toolsand equipment at construction sites. As such, these storage containersare often the targets of thieves. Heretofore, locking mechanisms havebeen employed to prevent theft of storage container contents. FIG. 1 isa perspective view of a prior art storage container 100 having a lockingmechanism 102. Storage container 100 includes a base 104, a pair ofsidewalls 106 a and 106 b, an end section (not shown), a pair of doors108 a and 108 b, and a roof 110. Hinges rotatably couple doors 108 a and108 b to sidewalls 106 a and 106 b, respectively. FIG. 2 is a bottomview of the storage container shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is across-sectional view showing locking mechanism 102 taken along line AAof FIG. 2. With continued reference to FIG. 3, locking mechanism 102includes a tab 112 and a lock box 116. Lock box 116 includes an opening124 for accessing a pad lock. FIG. 4a is a front view of tab 112integrally formed on a first mounting plate 126. Mounting plate 126 isfixedly mounted to door 108 a. FIG. 4b is a side view of the tab 112,mounting plate 126, and door 108 a shown in FIG. 4a. As seen in FIG. 4b,tab 112 includes a tab aperture 114 for receiving a shackle (not shownin FIG. 4b) of the pad lock.

[0005] Returning to FIG. 3, when doors 108 a and 108 b are in the closedposition, tab 112 extends through an aperture 118 of lock box 116. Inthis position, a shackle of a pad lock can be inserted into tab aperture114. With shackle 122 inserted into tab aperture 114, doors 108 a and108 b are restrained in the closed position and the contents of thestorage container 102 are secure. However, a thief using, for example,bolt cutters, can cut the shackle of the pad lock and gain access to thecontents of storage container 102.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Disclosed is a storage container with an external lockingmechanism. The storage container includes a base, a roof, sidewallsextending between the base and roof, and first and second doorsrotatably mounted directly or indirectly to the first and secondsidewalls, respectively. The first and second doors are configured torotate between open and closed positions. The locking mechanism includesa tab fixedly mounted directly or indirectly to the first door. This tabincludes an aperture for receiving a shackle of a lock. The tab aperturedefines a centerline that extends in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to respective planes in which the roof and base arecontained. The locking mechanism also includes a container fixedlymounted directly or indirectly to the second door and configured toreceive the lock. The lock container comprises a lock container base,and lock container sidewalls extending from the lock container base. Afirst lock container side comprises a lock container aperture. The lockcontainer is fixedly mounted to the second door. When the first andsecond doors are in the closed position, the tab extends through thelock container aperture.

[0007] Alternatively, the storage container may include an end wallfixedly connected to the base, roof, and one of the sidewalls. The endwall may replace one of the doors above. In this alternativearrangement, the tab is fixedly mounted to the end wall and extendsthrough the lock container aperture when the door is in the closedposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The present invention may be better understood, and its numerousobjects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in theart by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the samereference number throughout the figures designates a like or similarelement.

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art storage container;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the storage container shown in FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism takenalong line AA of FIG. 2;

[0012]FIG. 4a is a front view of the tab mounted on the door shown inFIG. 3;

[0013]FIG. 4b is a side view of the tab mounted on the door shown inFIG. 3;

[0014]FIG. 5a is a perspective view of a storage container employing alocking mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 5b is a perspective view of another storage containeremploying a locking mechanism according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the storage container shown in FIG. 5a;

[0017]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism takenalong line BB of FIG. 6;

[0018]FIG. 8 is a front view of the tab mounted on the door shown inFIG. 7;

[0019]FIG. 9 is a top view of the tab mounted on the door shown in FIG.7;

[0020]FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the locking mechanism shown in FIG. 6;

[0021]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the lock box shown in FIG. 10taken along line CC thereof;

[0022]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a lock;

[0023]FIG. 13 is a side view of the lock shown in FIG. 12;

[0024]FIG. 14 is a back view of the lock shown in FIG. 12;

[0025]FIG. 15 illustrates the lock shown in FIG. 12 with the keymechanism thereof partially removed;

[0026]FIG. 16 illustrates the lock mechanism shown in FIG. 7 with thelock operatively positioned therein;

[0027]FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the lock and locking mechanism shownin FIG. 16; and

[0028]FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 17.

[0029] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. However,the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limitthe invention to the particular form disclosed. On the contrary, theintention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as definedby the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030]FIG. 5a is a perspective view of a storage container in employinglocking mechanism 202. Storage container 200 includes a base 204, a pairof sidewalls 206 a and 206 b, an end wall (not shown), doors 208 a and208 b, and roof 210. Sidewalls 206 a and 206 b extend between base 204and roof 210. Doors 208 a and 208 b are rotatably mounted to sidewalls206 a and 206 b, respectively. Hinges 212 can rotatably mount doors 208a and 208 b to sidewalls 206 a and 206 b, respectively. Doors 208 a and208 b are rotatable between the opened and closed position. FIG. 5ashows doors 208 a and 208 b in the closed position.

[0031]FIG. 5b is a perspective view of the storage container shown inFIG. 5a with modifications thereto. More particularly, FIG. 5b showsdoor 208 a replaced with an end section 214 fixedly connected to base204, sidewall 206 a, and roof 210.

[0032]FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the storage container shown in FIG. 5a.FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism 202 shown inFIG. 6 taken along line BB thereof. As seen in FIG. 7, locking mechanism202 includes a lock box 216, and a tab 218. FIG. 8 is a front view oftab 218. FIG. 9 is a top view of tab 218. As seen in FIGS. 8 and 8b, tab218 is fixedly connected to a mounting plate 220, which in turn isfixedly connected to door 208 a. For purposes of explanation, lockingmechanism 202 will be described with reference to the storage container200 shown in FIG. 5a, it being understood that locking mechanism 202 maybe employed in the storage container 200 shown in FIG. 5b with tab 218fixedly mounted to end section 214.

[0033] Tab 218 may be formed from high strength steel. Tab 218 includesa tab aperture 221 having a centerline extending orthogonal to theplanes in which base 204 and roof 210 are respectively contained. Tabaperture 221 is configured to receive a shackle (not shown in FIG. 6 or7) of a lock (not shown in FIG. 6 or 7). Tab 218 is fixedly mounted todoor 208 a via first mounting plate 220. For purposes of definition, twocomponents can be mounted together either directly or indirectly via oneor more intermediate components. FIG. 7 shows tab 218 indirectly mountedto door 208 a via first mounting plate 220. First mounting plate 220 maybe formed from high strength steel. Tab 218 may be integrally formedwith first mounting plate 220. Alternatively, tab 218 may be welded tofirst mounting plate 126. Mounting plate 220 may be welded to door 208 ausing well known welding techniques.

[0034]FIG. 10 is a bottom view of lock box 216 fixedly mounted to door208 b. As shown in FIG. 10, lock box 216 is fixedly mounted to door 208b via second mounting plate 222. Lock box 216 can be welded to secondmounting plate 222. Second welding plate 222, in turn, can be welded todoor 208 b using well known welding techniques. Both lock box and secondmounting plate 222 may be formed from high strength steel. FIG. 11 is across-sectional view taken along line CC shown in FIG. 10. As shown inFIG. 11, lock box 216 includes a lock box aperture 224. With referenceto FIG. 7, lock box 216 is directly or indirectly mounted to door 208 bsuch that tab 218 extends through lock box aperture 224 when doors 208 aand 208 b are in the closed position. It is noted that tab aperture 221extends vertically such that a center line thereof perpendicularlyextends between the planes in which roof 210 and base 204 arerespectively contained.

[0035]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a lock 226 that can be used inconnection with the locking mechanism 202 shown in FIG. 7. The American2000 model lock produced by American Lock, Inc. of Crete Ill., is anexample of lock 226. FIG. 13 is a side view of lock 226 shown in FIG.12. FIG. 14 is a back view of the lock shown in FIG. 12. With referenceto FIGS. 12-14, lock 226 includes a lock housing 228. With reference toFIGS. 12 and 14, a recess 230 is formed in the back surface 230 of lockhousing 228. Lock 226 includes a shackle 232 coupled to a key mechanism234 (FIG. 15).

[0036] Shackle 232 is moveable within recess 230. More particularly,using a key (not shown in FIGS. 12-14)) key mechanism 234 can bepartially removed from housing 228. FIG. 15 shows the lock 226 of FIG.14 with key mechanism 234 partially removed. With key mechanism 234partially removed from housing 228, lock 226 is said to be “unlocked.”As can be seen FIG. 15, partially removing key mechanism 234 movesshackle 232 out of recess 230. With lock 226 unlocked as shown in FIG.15, lock 226 can be inserted into lock box 216 (see FIG. 7), and tab 218can be inserted into recess 230 of lock 226. FIG. 16 shows the lockingmechanism 202 with lock 226 inserted into lock box 216. Although notshown in FIG. 16, tab 218 is inserted into recess 230 of lock 226. Inthis position, key mechanism 234 is fully reinserted into the housing228. Reinserting key mechanism 234 into housing 228 causes shackle 232to be inserted into tab aperture 221. It is further noted that thediameter of tab aperture 221 should be slightly greater than thecross-sectional diameter of shackle 232 so that shackle 232 fits snuglyin tab aperture 221.

[0037]FIG. 16 shows that sidewalls 240 a and 240 b of lock box 216 arepositioned adjacent lock 226. A gap is provided between lock 226 and oneor both of sidewalls 240 a and 240 b. Although not shown in FIG. 16, thegap may be sufficient only to allow human fingers to fit between thesidewall 242 of lock 226 and one or both of sidewalls 240 a and 240 b.In another embodiment not shown in FIG. 16, sidewall 242 may engagesidewalls 240 a and 240 b when lock 226 is received in the lock box 216.Thus, in these alternative embodiments, the width of lock box 216 may besubstantially smaller than that shown in FIG. 16.

[0038] It is noted that with tab 218 inserted into recess 230, andshackle 232 inserted into aperture 221, the back surface 230 of lock 226engages or is positioned very close to sidewall 240 c of lock box 216.With lock 226 in this position, shackle 232 is inaccessible to boltcutters or other tools for cutting. It is noted that with tab 218inserted into recess 230, and shackle 232 inserted into aperture 221,key mechanism 234 is accessible through the opening 244 of lock box 216.It is noted that the widths of first and second mounting plates 220 and222, respectively, are selected to eliminate or substantially eliminatethe gap between lock box 216 and first mounting plate 220 when tab 218extends through box aperture 224 and tab aperture 221 receives theshackle 232 of lock 226.

[0039] Although the present invention has been described in connectionwith several embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited tothe specific forms set forth herein. On the contrary, it is intended tocover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can bereasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage container comprising: a base; a roof;sidewalls extending between the base and roof; first and second doorsrotatably mounted directly or indirectly to the first and secondsidewalls, respectively, wherein the first and second doors areconfigured to rotate between open and closed positions; a tab fixedlymounted directly or indirectly to the first door, wherein the tabincludes an aperture for receiving a shackle of a lock, wherein the tabaperture defines a center line that extends in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to respective planes in which the roof and base arecontained; a lock container fixedly mounted directly or indirectly tothe second door and configured to receive the lock, wherein the lockcontainer comprises a lock container base, and lock container sidewallsextending from the lock container base, wherein a first lock containerside comprises a lock container aperture, wherein the lock container isfixedly mounted to the second door; wherein the tab extends through thelock container aperture when the first and second doors are in theclosed position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising thelock, the lock comprising a lock housing and the shackle, wherein thelock housing comprises a recess configured to receive the tab, whereinthe shackle is movable into or out of the tab aperture when the tab isreceived in the recess.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the lockcontainer comprises an opening, wherein the lock is insertable into orremovable from the lock container through the opening.
 4. The apparatusof claim 3 wherein the lock container comprises four lock containersidewalls, wherein ends of the lock container sidewalls opposite thelock container base, define the opening.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2wherein the tab is received in the recess of the lock housing, whereinthird and fourth oppositely facing lock container sidewalls engage thelock housing.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the tab is received inthe recess of the lock housing, wherein the lock housing engages one ofsecond and third oppositely facing lock container sidewalls.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein the tab is received in the recess of thelock housing, wherein the lock housing is separated from second andthird oppositely facing lock container sidewalls by first and seconddistances, respectively.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the firstdistance is less than one inch.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein thesecond distance is less than one inch.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7wherein the container sidewall engages the lock housing.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10 wherein a third distance separates the lock and afourth container sidewall, wherein the first container sidewall facesopposite the fourth lock container sidewall, wherein the fourth distanceis greater than a width of the lock housing.
 12. A storage containercomprising: a base; a roof; a pair of sidewalls extending between thebase and roof; an end wall extending between the base and roof; a tabfixedly mounted to the end wall, wherein the tap comprises a tabaperture configured to receive a shackle of a lock, wherein the tabaperture defines a center line that extends in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to respective planes in which the roof and base arecontained; a door mounted directly or indirectly to one of the sidewalls, wherein the door is rotatably between open and closed positions;a lock container fixedly mounted directly or indirectly to the door andconfigured to receive the lock, wherein the lock container comprises alock container base, and lock container sidewalls extending from thelock container base, wherein a first lock container side comprises alock container aperture; wherein the tab extends through the lockcontainer aperture when the door is in the closed position.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12 further comprising the lock, the lock comprising alock housing and the shackle, wherein the lock housing comprises arecess configured to receive the tab, wherein the shackle is movableinto or out of the tab aperture when the tab is received in the recess.14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the lock container comprises anopening, wherein the lock is insertable into or removable from the lockcontainer through the opening.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein thelock container comprises four lock container sidewalls, wherein ends ofthe lock container sidewalls opposite the lock container base, definethe opening.
 16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the tab is receivedin the recess of the lock housing, wherein second and third oppositelyfacing lock container sidewalls engage the lock housing.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 13 wherein the tab is received in the recess of thelock housing, wherein the lock housing engages one of second and thirdoppositely facing lock container sidewalls.
 18. The apparatus of claim13 wherein the tab is received in the recess of the lock housing,wherein the lock housing is separated from second and third oppositelyfacing lock container sidewalls by first and second distances,respectively.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the first distanceis less than one inch.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the seconddistance is less than one inch.
 21. The apparatus of claim 18 whereinthe first container sidewall engages the lock housing.
 22. The apparatusof claim 21 wherein a third distance separates the lock and a fourthcontainer sidewall, wherein the first container sidewall faces oppositethe fourth lock container sidewall, wherein the fourth distance isgreater than a width of the lock housing.
 23. A storage containercomprising: a base; a roof; sidewalls extending between the base androof; first and second doors rotatably mounted directly or indirectly tothe first and second sidewalls, respectively, wherein the first andsecond doors are configured to rotate between open and closed positions;means for locking the first and second doors when the first and seconddoors are in the closed position.
 24. A storage container comprising: abase; a roof; a pair of sidewalls extending between the base and roof;an end wall extending between the base and roof; a door mounted directlyor indirectly to one of the side walls, wherein the door is rotatablybetween open and closed positions; means for locking the door to theendwall when the door is in the closed position.